After a tumultuous year, Carbonara’s Ristorante on Mt. Lebanon Boulevard is looking to move forward under the leadership of new co-owner Fred Snyder.

The restaurant was purchased by Steven Lemme in May 2025. Lemme hired a manager to oversee day-to-day operations, but Snyder said standards declined under that arrangement, ultimately leading to health code violations.

On April 30, Carbonara’s received a Consumer Alert from the Allegheny County Health Department for multiple code violations, including issues related to employee hygiene practices and cross-contamination prevention procedures. Restaurants receiving a Consumer Alert are given 10 days to correct violations, improve procedures and undergo a follow-up review. Carbonara’s alert was removed May 7.

Following the violations, Lemme reached out to Snyder and asked him to return to the restaurant.

“He called me up and wanted to bring me back
because of the trouble,” Snyder said. “I said, ‘If I come back, I would like to be partners.’ He said, ‘OK, let’s do it.’”

Snyder worked at Carbonara’s beginning in 1999 and served as kitchen manager for more than two decades before leaving in 2022. Lemme said bringing Snyder back was an important step in restoring the restaurant’s recipes, operations and customer service standards.

“I was a little nervous coming back because I didn’t know how bad it was,” Snyder said. “But just in the last three weeks, as I’ve been here cooking, we’ve picked up a lot of good feedback.”

Carbonara’s Consumer Alert was one of 11 issued by the Allegheny County Health Department to restaurants throughout the county in 2026.

“As a manager for 24 years, we never had a problem with anything,” Snyder said. “No complaints with the food, and everything we’ve done, we’ve done to high standards.”

The restaurant was founded in 1970 by two Italian-born owners and has long promoted itself as a family-oriented Mt. Lebanon institution. According to its website, “We’ve stayed true to our roots while growing with the community that we love. Our story is one of heritage, hospitality and heart.”

Snyder emphasized that he does not blame Lemme for the restaurant’s recent challenges. Instead, he credits the owner for recognizing the need for change and taking action.

“He’s really good,” Snyder said. “He’ll work with you. He listens to you to see what we need to do to change. He wants the people to come back.”

Mt. Lebanon has built a reputation as one of the South Hills’ premier dining destinations, offering residents a diverse mix of restaurants and cuisines despite its relatively small size.

“Here, people are loyal,” Snyder said. “They’re friendly with you, they’re loyal, and that’s what’s nice about this area.”

Snyder, Lemme and the restaurant’s staff say they are committed to restoring customer confidence and returning Carbonara’s to the standards that helped build its reputation over the past five decades.

“I just want everyone in the Mt. Lebanon and Castle Shannon areas to come back to Carbonara’s and give us a second chance,” Snyder said.